Risk Factors for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Executive Summary for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Risk factors influence the chance of developing cancer among individuals, but individuals with no risk factors also develop cancer. Some of the common risk factors that develop the risk of gastrointestinal stromal tumor include age (older than age 50 and rare in people younger than 40), gender (more in men than women), genetic syndrome (rarely seen in families), and hereditary syndromes (increases the risk of GIST include neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and the Carney-Stratakis dyad). A syndrome, the Carney triad might also increase the risk of GIST.

Risk factors Associated with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

A risk factor can be anything that influences the development of any cancer. But having a risk factor, or many does not give certainty of having particular cancer. Some people with no risk factors can also develop cancer. The majority of GISTs develop sporadically, which means for an unknown reason. Doctors can rarely find a specific risk factor for people diagnosed with a GIST, other than the hereditary syndromes discussed below ^​1​.

The below-mentioned factors can raise a person’s risk of developing gastrointestinal stromal tumor ^​2​:

• Age – Most people diagnosed with a GIST are older than age 50. They can happen in people of any age but are rare in people younger than 40.
• Gender – GIST is slightly more common in men than in women.

Genetic syndromes – GIST is rarely seen in families, and having a family member with GIST usually doesn’t increase the risk of developing the disease. Although, hereditary syndromes that can increase the risk of GIST include neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and the Carney-Stratakis dyad. A syndrome that is not hereditary called the Carney triad might also increase the risk of GIST.

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